Dolan’s mum on Knicks
AS FAR as the Knicks coaching search goes, James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan has imposed a blackout — on himself.
At least that’s what he told Mike (Sports Pope) Francesa during a Tuesday WFAN interview.
“I have no idea who he (Phil Jackson) is talking to,” Dolan said.
The pontiff did not provide him with any clues by holding up pictures of either Steve Kerr or Derek Fisher. It was actually Dolan who used comedy to make a point.
He laughed before saying how Jackson “asked me not to tell anybody” but he couldn’t resist. Dolan said in May his family gave him a birthday gift — a T-shirt with two words on it: “Ask Phil.”
“I actually have not asked him about t he coaching search, on purpose, ” Dolan said. “I have not asked him about it. I just told him I am here if you need me. If you don’t need me, that’s fine, too.”
As far as the Carmelo Anthony optout situation, Dolan said he wasn’t sticking his beak in that matter either.
“I made a commitment to Phil that he’s going to run it,” Dolan said. “Unless he asks me to help, it’s his to run.”
He said Jackson and Knicks GM Steve Mills are “working really well together.”
When Francesa asked about “reports” that there have been “issues” between Dolan and Jackson, the Garden boss said: “Not that I’m aware of.”
Dolan said he would be flying to Los Angeles for Wednesday night’s Rangers-Kings Stanley Cup Final opener.
“I’m really excited and hopeful,” Dolan said. “I’m also scared to death.” He admitted he threw in the towel, thinking his team was toast after going down 3-1 in the Penguins series. Dolan was so down, he said he didn’t make the trip to Pittsburgh for Game 5, opting to watch it from home.
“I’ve been on the road with teams in the playoffs before and when you lose it’s a terrible drive home,” Dolan said. “It just feels like crap.”